June 12, 2013
Scotland

Plans for a windfarm near Drymen are abandoned

Milngavie & Bearsden Herald | 12 June 2013 | www.milngavieherald.co.uk

Campaigners are celebrating a victory after a firm scrapped its plans to build a windfarm with 10 turbines at Ard Ghaoth near Drymen.

Hamilton-based Banks Renewables no longer intends to submit a planning application for the development. They began investigating the site two years ago and last year put their application on hold after tests which showed “surpisingly poor” wind speeds at the site.

Further tests confirmed their worst fear – that Ard Ghaoth was not a suitable site.

On the company’s website, Mark Dowdall, environment and community director at the Banks Group, said: “Obviously we are disappointed as this location was ideal for development in so many ways. However, you can’t have a wind farm when there simply isn’t enough wind.

“Exhaustive tests lasted well over a year to make sure any quirks or anomalies were accounted for and this has confirmed that the wind levels here are low compared to what we would normally expect to find.

“We’d like to thank all of those who worked with us during this process, including the landowners, community councillors and all of the members of the public.”

Mary Young, spokesperson for Endrick Valley Action Group, who fought the plans said: “We are delighted that this innappropriate proposal will not be going ahead.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/06/12/plans-for-a-windfarm-near-drymen-are-abandoned/